Mayoral candidates closing in on $100K donation mark

Starkville's two remaining mayoral candidates, Democratic incumbent Parker Wiseman and GOP candidate Dan Moreland, combined to raise almost $96,000 in campaign donations as of May 28, a number which falls about $11,000 short of what all 15 primary candidates raised by April 30.

State-required reports of receipts and disbursements show both candidates increased their political war chests since the end of April - Wiseman's $19,082.11 in donations outpaced his opponent's $6,225 -- but both Moreland and the incumbent spent more than $20,000 since the primary pre-election report deadline.

As the June 4 election nears, Wiseman leads Moreland in terms of cash on hand -- $12,511.18 to $3,024.41 -- but those figures do not include any money the GOP candidate received during a Wednesday fundraiser which featured Gov. Phil Bryant.

Moreland unloaded the largest amount from his campaign during the pre-election report period, spending $25,373.43 since the end of April. The GOP candidate spent a combined $12,251.93 on printing, mail-out materials and traditional advertising since May 1. An $11,374 payment to Broadcast Media Group dated April 28 but included in the May report raises that total to $23,625.93. Moreland also reported $500 in consulting fees, $1,200 in wages for his campaign manager and $27.50 in non-itemized spending.

Wiseman also purchased advertising with local media outlets, spending $2,785.50 on radio and TV spots, and commercial production. The incumbent's largest expenses -- a combined $35,297.07 -- was spent on both consultant services and online fundraising fees.

From Jan. 1 to April 30, Moreland, Wiseman and former Democratic candidate Mary Lee Beal reported raising a combined $93,195.99 in campaign contributions, while 12 alderman candidates garnered $14,576.75. Removing Beal's numbers from the mayoral contenders, Moreland and Wiseman combined for $70,647 in that time period. The two remaining mayoral candidates spent almost $20,000 each before the May 7 primary.

Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch